Title:   Sounds of the Night

Author:  Kaly

Category:  Adult Het; ATF

Pairing:  Vin/OFC

Archive:  No

Author's note (optional):  This story is the first in a continuing series.  It started out as a challenge on the Mag7HetFic list – with everyone finishing off the tale that began with the first few paragraphs.  The first three paragraphs are not mine; I just took them and ran and this is the result.  Feedback is welcomed and enjoyed

Disclaimer:  The men of Magnificent Seven are not mine (alas); never were and never will be.  They belong to CBS, Mirisch, MGM, Trilogy…and anyone else I neglected to mention.  No money is being made with this story and no copyright infringement is intended.  The character of Alicia "Lacey" Morris is my creation.  Thanks to Mog for the use of her ATF sandbox in which this story plays.

"Sounds of the Night"

A walk in the park had been a nice idea after dinner, he thought as he glanced at the woman at his side.  They had been dating for a couple of months now, not often able to spend a lot of time together due to his job as an ATF agent and her work with the Attorney General's ancillary office here in Denver.

Never beyond a goodnight kiss as they left the restaurant, him to his car and she to hers, but tonight was different.  They'd made a promise to spend the evening together, getting to know each other better, no pagers, no cell phones.  Everything else on hold for once so the two of them could see if this was going to go anywhere.

He listened to the sounds of the night as he walked along, tentatively touching her hand to check her response.  He sighed with relief when he felt her warm fingers enclose his, then a light tug and he stopped.  Turning to face her, he could see what she wanted reflected in her eyes, no words needed as he leaned in to take her lips with his.

R²R²R²R

He felt the soft caress of her hand as she gently stroked his cheek.  His arms moved to encircle her, one hand pressing to the small of her back as the other cradled her head.  She moved into him, needing to connect as much as he did.  He sighed, enjoying the feel of her in his embrace.

"Ain't that sweet?" The lovers tensed at the menacing voice that spoke up from beside them.  "Don'cha agree, Hal?"

"Ayuh."

The couple pulled apart just slightly – enough for their eyes to meet and for her to see and understand his silent signal.  'Stay calm…don't make any sudden moves…' his eyes seemed to tell her.  'I'll take care of this.'  The young woman blinked hard, trying to convey her acquiescence to her escort's suggestions.

"Seems almost a shame to make 'em part, don't it?" the first man spoke up again and the young agent found a gun barrel pressed hard into his ribs.  His deep blue eyes watched as the other man – Hal – moved slowly to stand behind his date.  He had to give her credit – she was very composed, only the widening of her big brown eyes conveying her fear.  He kept his hands firmly around her, all the while trying to figure a way to inconspicuously reach for his weapon.

"Let her go, mister," Hal said, grabbing hold of the woman's left wrist.  She choked back a small cry and fought the urge to pull away, knowing that, at this point, it was wiser to go along with what the men wanted.  Her eyes locked with her companion's, her faith in him plainly written upon her face.

"What do you want?" the agent asked, shifting slightly to try and distance himself from the pistol at his side.  "Whatever you want…"

"Well, now…" the leader of the two hoods started, gazing hungrily at the woman over her date's shoulder.  "We were just gonna take your money…But I'm thinking that your lady friend might be itching to change dance partners."

"Look," the agent said evenly, "I'll give you whatever you want…just don't hurt…"

"Didn't ya hear Jack?" Hal cut in angrily.  The quiet of the night was pierced by the sound of a switchblade opening.  "He said the lady don't wanna be with you no more…now let her go!"

With a cry, the woman found herself being torn from her date's grasp.  The cold steel of a knife found its way to her throat and she struggled not to escape the clammy hand that reached around her waist and grabbed her right arm.  She knew that doing so would only mean her throat being slashed, not to mention the possibility of Jack putting a bullet into someone she cared a great deal for.  Someone whom she loved, she realized now, wondering why she hadn't seen it before.

She'd always considered him the most attractive of Team Seven – from the moment she'd first seen him during a visit to Oren Travis' office.  The way he could speak volumes with a single glance; the camaraderie he shared with his fellow agents – particularly the leader of the team.  The shy way he had of saying hello, barely meeting her gaze and uttering a soft, "Ma'am."

He was shy – painfully so she soon discovered, since Team Seven was a hot topic in most Denver law enforcement offices.  So when he approached her and asked her out, she was quite surprised.  Pleasantly surprised, but surprised nonetheless.  She suspected he had been egged on by the team's lothario, Wilmington…but who was she to look a gift horse in the mouth?

And now…now it seemed she was in danger of losing him.  Before she had a chance to tell him how she felt about him.  Before she had done more than kiss that gorgeous mouth of his.

Then things moved quickly.  Suddenly she heard the sharp retort of gunfire.  Startled, she jerked back, feeling the sting of a blade piercing her skin.  Another shot rang out and the arm about her waist disappeared.  She stared in disbelief at the two figures writhing in pain on the ground before feeling a pair of strong hands gripping her head and tilting her gaze upward.

"Are you all right?" she heard him ask, those azure eyes filled with concern.  Stunned, she mutely nodded, finding herself being held in a strong embrace.  Her heart racing, she leaned into him, too shaken to realize that she was bleeding.

When she'd been torn from his arms, it had taken every ounce of his control not to lunge at the man holding her.  He'd seen the fear in her eyes – and though he hadn't shown it outwardly, it mirrored his own.  He knew he had to act quickly, to try and bring both men down while ensuring her safety.

In that moment or two that she'd been held at knifepoint, he knew something of what Larabee must have felt in losing Sarah and Adam.  He saw how much she had added to his life – even in the small amount of time they'd managed to share together – and knew he just couldn't lose her.

Everything had happened so fast…even he wasn't certain exactly how he did it.  One second his hand was resting on his hidden gun…and the next the man beside him was hitting the path under their feet.  Two seconds later and his friend joined him on the sidewalk.  And he found himself staring into two enormous brown eyes.

His grip on her tightened as he felt her begin to shake.  He was proud of her he had to admit.  She had kept her composure throughout their short ordeal; only a brief cry had escaped her before she brought her fear back under control.  As he held her tightly, he felt his shoulder growing damp.  At first he thought it was her tears; then realization struck him and he pulled back to look at her closely.

"Lacey?  Lacey, did he cut you?" he asked softly, but firmly.  "Alicia!" he said more forcefully, drawing her attention back to him from wherever it had wandered.  He tilted her head up carefully, immediately noticing the seeping wound.  "Damn!" he cursed, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket and pressing it tightly against the cut.

"It-it's not bad," she said finally, wincing as he applied more pressure.  "Really, Vin…it's not bad at all."  She reached up and took the cloth from him, and held it there.

"Lacey…I need you to do something for me, okay?  I know we said no phones…but did you bring your cell with you?"  Her dark head shook slightly.  "Okay…I need you to find a phone and call 911…"

"But Vin…"

"No," he said commandingly.  "I need you to call…Listen to me, Lacey.  I need you to tell them what happened – everything, okay?  You understand me, darlin'?"  Vin watched as her gaze fell upon the two injured men.  "Don't you worry about them…I don't think they'll be botherin' anyone else anytime soon."

R²R²R²R

Vin turned the key in the lock, pushing open the door and letting Lacey step inside.  What was supposed to have been a nice quiet, romantic evening had instead turned into one very long, stressful night.  Lacey had placed the call to 911, knowing enough to tell them a Federal agent was involved, and hurried back to his side.  Once safely in his arms again, she'd grown silent; every now and then a small tremor shook her slight frame.

He'd spoken softly to her as they'd waited for help to arrive, one hand tenderly caressing her back while the other held his revolver, still trained on the two men.  The cut under her chin wasn't life threatening, but it was still bleeding more than Vin liked.  And he couldn't help but think how much more serious it could have been.

It was while they were at the hospital that Chris showed up.  Vin was in the emergency room waiting area while Lacey was getting stitched up.  He shouldn't have been surprised to see the blond suddenly appear at his side, but he was.  Hell, when the nurses on shift saw him they probably drew straws to see who would call Team Seven's leader and inform him that one of his own was in their domain.  After all, it wasn't often when one of the ATF team arrived without the other six in tow.

It was Larabee that pulled a few strings – getting them in and out a lot faster than was normal in such a situation.  Helping speed up the statement giving process, sensing that Tanner and his lady friend had already had too long a night.  Chris was also the one who'd joked about being glad Vin hadn't had to resort to giving over his borrowed vehicle to the criminals.  Buck babied that truck more than he did JD, and no one would have wanted to witness the ladies man should anything bad befall his 'Lady'.

Vin had wanted to impress his young lady, and his beat up old Jeep was far from acceptable.  And, seeing how there was no way he'd manage to get Ezra to part with his Jag, the only other option besides Buck's classic truck would have been to borrow Nathan's Explorer.  But the medic was attending a seminar in San Francisco, so Vin was out of luck there as well.

Larabee ushered them from the emergency room once all was said and done.  Uttering a gruff "Go on and take your girl home," he'd clasped his friend's hand.  Both silently thankful that things had not gone worse than they had, the men nodded to one another and went their separate ways.

And now here he was, at her front door.  He held her keys out to her, wanting to say something to her to make it all right, but not knowing what.  He had the urge to enfold her in his arms and never let go – wanted to stay with her, but he couldn't bring himself to boldly ask such a thing.  So he stood there, holding out her keys and feeling like a fool.

Lacey watched him, standing just on the threshold – as if he were afraid to cross it and come inside.  The night certainly hadn't turned out the way either of them had planned.  This was to be time spent getting to know one another better – sharing things they hadn't before.  Well that much was true – getting mugged was definitely something they'd never done together.  Though it was an experience that neither of them wished to have repeated.

That kiss – just before the attack – it had held so much promise.  It had been so sweet and gentle…and she wanted more.  Now Vin stood on her doorstep and she saw all that she had hoped for this night fading away.  All Lacey knew was that she didn't want to be alone…and the person she wanted to be with was standing before her – looking as if he might vanish at any moment.

"Won't you come in?" she blurted finally, deliberately not taking her keys from his hand out of fear that he would turn tail and run the second she did so.  Deep blue eyes glanced up shyly at her and she could almost see him debating whether or not to come inside.  "Please?"

Vin could almost hear the plea in her voice and silently berated himself.  'Of course she wants you to stay,' he thought.  'She's still shaken by what happened and is afraid to be alone.'  He squelched the disappointment that arose in him, secretly wishing there were another reason she'd asked him to stay.  But how could he deny her even a little security after tonight?  Even if to stay meant fighting his own urge to do more than sit and hold her hand.  He nodded slowly and stepped past her.

"Would-would you like something to drink?" Lacey asked as she closed the door and followed him into the living room.  "I could make some tea…" she started; then glancing at Vin, she thought of something else.  "I might have some beer…"

"Either one," he replied, laying her keyring down on a nearby table.  "Don't go to any trouble," he added.  While she was in the kitchen, he took a quick look around the room, taking note of the way she'd decorated.  Several pictures caught his eye – photos of Lacey on a large black gelding, dressed in full equestrian garb.  Jodhpurs, riding boots, hacking jacket, and riding helmet.  Some photos were posed; others appeared to be from various competitions.  One had Lacey riding low on the horse's back as it made a jump, her crop held tightly in one hand.

"Here you go," she said softly, holding out a bottle for him.

"You ride?" he asked, motioning to the pictures.  'Real smart, Tanner…of course she rides.  That ain't no apparition in those photos.'

"I've been meaning to take those down," Lacey replied, a hint of sadness in her voice.  Her expression grew thoughtful.  "I used to compete…a few years ago.  I didn't do too badly, either – as the cups adorning my parent's mantle will attest to…"

"What made ya quit?"

"I was thrown," she stated quietly and Vin wished he'd never brought the subject up.  "I landed on my feet, believe it or not – though how I'm not certain.  Still, I had a pretty bad break on my right leg…and after that, my days of competing ended."  She moved away from the pictures and sat on the sofa across the room.

"You don't have a limp."  Vin groaned inwardly.  'Geez Tanner, you're just batting a thousand tonight, aren't you?  First you nearly get her killed, then you bring up a bad memory…and now you done gone and insulted her.'  He sat down on the opposite end of the couch and played with the label on the beer bottle.

"Surgery can do wonders sometimes…though it aches whenever rain is on the way."  Lacey grew quiet for a moment, glancing over at the photographs once more.  "I do miss that horse though," she admitted.  "He was quite…spirited."

Vin watched her as she spoke.  Her head tilted to one side as she studied the pictures of her horse, the white of the bandage under her chin a stark reminder of their evening.  He wished again that he'd never suggested that walk in the park.  But then…would he be sitting here now if he hadn't?

"I didn't mean to make you sad…"

"Oh, you didn't Vin," she said quickly.  "Not at all."  She exhaled loudly, turning to face him with a soft smile.  "Besides…wasn't the object of tonight to get to know one another better?  For all the good and bad of it, Thunder was a big part of my life once."

"Thunder?" A grin broke out on the sharpshooter's face.  "Ain't no wonder he was spirited with a name like that."  The couple both laughed, the pleasant sound filling the otherwise quiet room.  "Why do you want to take the pictures down?"

Lacey sighed.  "I guess I just figured it was time.  As much as I loved riding – competing…that part of my life is over now.  I thought it was time to move on – to stop dwelling on the past…" Vin glanced over at her, her brown eyes met his and he stared, not paying attention to where he was trying to place his half-empty beer bottle.

"Aw hell," he cursed as the bottle tipped over and spilled on the carpet.  He'd tried to place it onto the coffee table, only he'd misjudged the edge and it teetered only a second before crashing to the floor.  He jumped up, grumbling to himself.  "Can't believe I'm so stupid…would understand if you didn't wanna see me again."

"What?"

"Can't even take you out to dinner without some jackass…sorry, some jerk trying to kill you." He muttered, picking up the bottle and placing it firmly on the table.  "Come here and bring up memories that make ya sad…and now this…" His blue eyes met hers again.  "I-I'm sorry, Lacey…" he said softly and started toward the door.

As he went to move past her, Lacey jumped to her feet.  Her hands cupped his face as she brought her mouth against his, kissing him hard.  Startled, Vin stood frozen in place, letting Lacey control the situation.  Then, once his brain and body were in sync again, he wrapped his arms around her and returned the kiss.  Her arms slipped about his neck, her lips parted slightly in invitation.  He accepted, his tongue darting into her mouth, a soft moan escaping her as he did so.

It took a moment for Lacey to realize what she'd done.  Good Lord…she'd just attacked Vin Tanner – shy, unassuming Vin Tanner.  How…how could she have done such a thing?  All she could think was that she had to do something to keep him from walking out the door.  But couldn't she have just told him she wanted him to stay?  Did she have to jump at him like she did?  She just didn't normally do things like this.  She wasn't as shy as Vin, but still…there was a line she wouldn't cross.  Or at least she thought there had been – until tonight.

'Hell, Lacey…he doesn't seem to be too upset by it.  He hasn't pushed you away or anything.'  She sighed, thinking that he was only being polite.  'Polite?  You call sticking his tongue down your throat polite?'

Their lips finally parted and she quickly ducked her head, afraid to meet his gaze.  Vin still held her firmly in his arms, his left hand stroking gently through the ends of her long, dark hair.  He noticed the blush that dotted her cheeks and suspected she was surprised by her own actions.  As surprised as he was by them, though he sure as hell wasn't unhappy about it.  Truth was, he'd been hoping for another excuse to kiss her.

Like now.  He reached down with his right hand to tilt her face up to meet his, forgetting the stitches newly sewn there.  At her flinch he cursed himself again.  "Aw hell, Lacey, I'm sorry…"

"If you say you're sorry one more time, Vin Tanner, so help me, I'll…"

"Yes?" Vin asked, his lips twitching as he fought back a smile.

"I'll…I'll…" Lacey sputtered.  "Well, I don't know what I'll do, but… I might just start crying," she said finally.  Vin was surprised to see real tears well up in her big brown eyes.

"Aw, Lacey, don't…please don't.  I'm…" Blue eyes widened as he forcibly stopped himself from finishing what he was going to say.  Damn…did he really say that so often?  He heard her sigh and took a good look at her.  She looked tired.  'Hell, Tanner, why wouldn't she be wore out?  Being held at knifepoint, having some slimeball pawin' at her…and then he cuts her.  Seeing two men get shot…be enough to tire anyone out.'

Lacey leaned into him, nuzzling his neck, and he fought the urge to sweep her up into his arms.  If he did that, it could only lead two places – the sofa, or… Vin's eyes involuntarily sought out the long hallway that led from the living room.  Hell, he didn't know which door led to her bedroom – didn't even know which led to the bathroom, since most of their dates had ended where they began.  He'd only been to her place once or twice before…and those times he never made it past the threshold.

And if he did manage to pick the correct door…then what?  Would she feel obligated to ask him to stay?  Damn, that thought hadn't occurred to him.  Did she think that she owed him because he saved her?  If he carried her into her bedroom, it would only lead in one of two directions.  Either a very quick retreat on his part, or…

A pair of slender arms encircled his neck; at Lacey's long, drawn out sigh, Vin realized, to his horror, that while he had warred with himself over all the reasons why he shouldn't pick her up, his subconscious had made the decision for him.  His hand burned with the feel of her bare thigh, the hem of her skirt draped over it.  His gaze moved from the hallway to the sofa and back again.  Though, he was certain, any moment now his heart would leap from his chest and he needn't worry about making a decision at that point.

"End of the hall on the left," Lacey murmured at his throat.  She'd been surprised, but delighted at finding herself floating in the gentle embrace of his arms.  Floating – that was the perfect way to describe how tenderly he held her.  She had hoped their evening might end this way – had planned for the possibility – but after the night they'd had, she expected those dreams to be dashed.  But now…

Vin carefully pushed open the bedroom door and stepped inside.  His eyes fell upon the bed and he paused.  Should he place her on the bed…would that be too presumptuous of him?  But, if he put her back on her feet and she was thinking…he would insult her once again.  He pulled back slightly, looking down into a thoughtful expressive pair of brown eyes.

"Lacey, I…" he paused, wondering exactly how to word what he was trying to say.  And just what was it he wanted to tell her?  That he didn't expect her to fall into bed with him…but would be real happy if she did so?  Oh yeah, that would be perfect…if they were living in an X-rated movie.

"Lacey, I…I don't want ya to think that I expect you to…" he started again, stopping as a slender hand brushed across his mouth, followed by a soft, lingering kiss.  Blue eyes stared into brown as a benevolent smile splayed on her face.  "I mean…you needn't feel obliged to…" Lips met his, once again cutting him off mid-explanation.  This time the kiss was more insistent, more passionate, and he felt his body respond to it.  The arm under her slowly lowered her legs to the floor before winding around her waist and drawing her closer to him.  So she could feel just what her kisses were doing to him.

"Lacey, I…" Vin was cut off once again; small hands were at his back, tugging insistently on his shirt in an attempt to free it from the waistband of his pants.  "Aw hell," he muttered softly, his mouth capturing hers before she could react.  He feasted on her, tasting and teasing, his tongue delving into her mouth and coaxing out a soft, sultry moan from deep within her.  Her hands were fisted at his back, the hem of his shirt gripped tightly in them, and he could feel the heat of her fingers against his bare skin.  He murmured a soft protest as her hands moved, the air around the spot her fingers had warmed seeming quite cool on his flesh.  Her hands made their way between them, gently but firmly pushing at his chest.  They drew apart reluctantly and blue eyes searched brown, confused by their sudden separation.

"Wait…right…here." Lacey whispered, placing a quick kiss to his lips before stepping through a nearby door.  A door that Vin had thought to be only a closet, but which he now suspected was the master bath.

Alone, he suddenly began to have doubts again.  His eyes searched the room, looking for something other than the bed with which to affix his attention.  The room was not overly feminine; no floral designs or pastels – even the furniture was made of a dark wood, perhaps cherry or mahogany.  And the colors of the room were rich, deep blues and purples, with some pinks thrown in as accent.  The colors of the sunset, Vin realized.  He spied a large, overstuffed chair in the corner and moved over there to sit in it, not quite ready to perch upon Lacey's bed just yet.

At the sound of the door opening, Vin glanced up.  Backlit by the bathroom light, she seemed to glow like an angel, and he stared in awe.  She wore a silken gown of violet that draped her body from shoulder to ankle; a matching robe was tied loosely closed over it.  She flipped the light switch and he almost groaned in bereavement at the loss of the vision she had been.

"Vin?" she questioned softly, her eyes unable to find him in the pale moonlight that bathed the room.  A slight clearing of his throat and her gaze trained on the farthest corner of the room.  She spied the dark shape of his body lounging in her favorite chair, the image bringing a slight smile to her lips.  She slowly approached him, saw him rise to his feet as she neared; a hand reached out and drew her into his embrace.

"Lacey…" he said gruffly, brushing the back of his knuckles tenderly across her cheek, "You look…" He searched for just the right word – trying to remember any of those fancy words Ezra used to describe the beauty before him.  But every word he though of seemed to pale in comparison.  He watched as her brow furrowed, and mentally chided himself for not saying what he meant outright.  'Long as the words are true, don't matter if they're real flowery.'  "You look beautiful, Lacey," he said finally, the sincerity of his words evident in his gaze and his expression.  He leaned in and gave her a long, lingering kiss to seal the truth in his words.

"Vin," Lacey whispered as they drew apart; her hands in a "V" on his chest, "I…I purchased this…yesterday."  Their eyes met and his mind and heart grasped the meaning of what she was trying to convey.  That she'd secretly hoped their relationship would progress to this point.  And that the gown she was draped in was worn for no other.  It had been for his eyes – for his pleasure only – that she'd chosen the garment that now accentuated her slender frame.  His hands moved to cup her face and he brought his mouth down gently to hers, the kiss he bestowed upon her deeply and completely expressing his appreciation for the gift she had given him.

Lacey felt a slow burn begin at her lips and then take flight, spreading through her body like the wildest of raging fires.  Her hands moved of their own volition, fingers curling around fabric as they pulled each button of his shirt free from its attachment.  Vin's shirt now completely undone, she let her hands float freely up his torso, molding themselves to every curve.  As she made her way up his chest and over his shoulders, she drew the shirt along with her, gently pushing it off of his body.

Her hand stilled at the feel of his latest scar, and she pulled back to turn a concerned gaze on him.  Her eyes darted from his to the recent wound and back.  She knew that such injuries were a hazard of his line of work, but upon her scrutiny of his torso it would seem Vin Tanner had seen more than his share.  Her fingers gently traced every scar, bending down to kiss several of the ones on his chest.

Vin drew in a sharp breath with every touch of her hands and lips.  A low groan passed his lips as she moved around him, her exploration continuing on his back.  His body jerked at the feathery light touch of her fingers over each scar; a shudder going through him at every kiss bestowed upon his back.

Until, finally, he could take no more.  He grabbed hold of her wrist, pulling her back in front of him and his lips captured hers.  His hands came up to cradle her face, his mouth feasting on hers, as if in an attempt to draw out the low moan that suddenly passed her lips.  She leaned into him, her hands at his shoulders.  Vin's hands dropped to her waist, tugging on the tie to her robe; his hands moved to her shoulders once it was loosened and he slipped the garment from her body.  His fingers traced circles over her bare shoulders, toying with the thin straps of her gown, and he wondered if it would slide from her body just as easily and gracefully.

"Vin…" Lacey breathed, shivering at his touch.  Her hands were at his waist now, reaching for the top button of his pants.  He'd worn dress pants for this date, a departure from the jeans he usually wore when outside the office.  Lacey was flattered that he'd cared enough to dress for their date, though she secretly enjoyed the way he filled out those tight denim jeans.  Those he wore on this night fit him well, but were loose enough that they slid easily from his body, followed quickly by the boxers he wore.  She could feel the heat of the blush that colored his cheeks as he stepped from the clothes that were pooled at his feet.  He moved toward her, starting to gently push her backward toward the bed, when she placed a hand gently against his chest.

"No," she said softly, stopping him in his tracks.  At his look of surprise, she groaned, certain he'd misunderstood her actions.  Lacey kissed him passionately, gently but firmly pushing him back – until his calves hit the front of the chair he had been sitting in earlier.  Vin's eyes widened, and he pulled away from her long enough for their eyes to meet and her intentions to be shown to him.  If possible, it seemed he blushed further, and Lacey leaned in to kiss each flushed cheek.

She pushed him into the chair and stood between his outstretched legs.  Vin watched as she started bunching the skirt of her gown up in her hands and he moved to assist her.  His hands moved hers aside and their eyes locked as she raised her arms over her head, bending toward him as he eased the gown up and off her body.  She leaned down for a kiss as she settled on her knees, straddling him in the chair.  His hands curved around her hips, longing to feel her body encased around him.

Long slender fingers curled around his erection; her lips parted to accept his probing tongue at the same instant she guided his swollen shaft into her.  She moved slowly against him, her hands twining into his shoulder-length hair.  His hands caressed her torso, running from her hips, up her sides to her breasts as they fell into a slow, gentle rhythm.

"Vin," she breathed as his mouth curved down her throat to her shoulder.  "Oh Vin."  Her hands twisted tighter into his hair as his tongue darted out to tease a taut nipple, drawing it into the warmth of his mouth and suckling upon it.  Small gasps of pleasure hummed in the back of her throat, the sound resonating around him like a blanket.  It enveloped him, taking her pleasure and making it his own.

Vin's hands dropped to her hips, pulling her down on him as he thrust upward.  Lacey wrapped her arms around him, leaning into his body as her passion consumed her.  Her face curled into his neck; she placed a soft kiss there before seeking out his mouth.  She cried out, the sound captured by his mouth as she rode a tidal wave of ecstasy that came crashing down around them both.

"Sweet Lacey," he whispered into her ear as he rocked her tightly in his arms.  Their bodies still locked together, he rose slowly to his feet – as soon as his legs would hold their weight – and carried her over to the bed.  Drawing the covers back from the bed, he lowered her gently down upon it; he quieted her soft moan of protest at their separation with a tender kiss; then climbed into the bed beside her.

Lacey snuggled against him as he curled his arms around her, her head resting against his shoulder.  A smile rose to her face as he kissed the top of her head, followed by a heavy sigh at the hand that stroked gently through her hair.  A hand stroked his chest, the fingers slowed and then stilled as her eyes fluttered closed.  A soft unintelligible murmur of devotion slipped past her lips as she finally allowed sleep to fall over her.

"I love you too, darlin'," Vin whispered into her hair, his hand still slowly moving through the strands.  It fell around her back and he hugged her closer to him, closed his eyes and sighed in contentment.  "I love you too."